Carcass dipping apparatus



April 1, 1941. ,1 E OZOUF 2,236,605

cAncAss DIPPING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5, l193'? Y 6 Sheets-Sheet l J5 5g u Q o i 5M Ym---f Y- 4 -60 9? 1 I a 72 s y Y w 75 1 2 o g I Q8 42g y Qfg "lg 21 z/ f ZL 1 7206/? O7 JQ @waar/5020496 1f Z7 April 1, 1941. A E. vOZQUF 2,236,605

GARCASS DIPPING AFPARATUS Filed NOV. 5, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 .avg-

April 1, 1941- A. E. ozoUF CARCSS DIPPING APPARATUS 6 sheets-Sheet s Filed Nov. 5, 1937 April l, 1941. A E OZQUF 2,236,605

CARGAS S DIPPING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 A@ www April l, 1941. A. E OZOUF 2,236,605

CARCASS DIPPING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5. 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April l; 1941. A. E. ozouF CARCSS DIPPING APPARATUS Patented Apr. 1, .1941

CARCASS DIPPING APPARATUS Arthur E. Ozouf, Chicago, Ill., assgnor to The. Allbright-Nell Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 5, 1937,'seria1No. 172,907 12 claims. l (ci. 17-1) The present invention relates generally to'apparatus for dipping machine-dehaired hog carcasses in a tank of molten resinous material in order to form seal-like coatings which upon stripping or peeling from the carcasses effect removal of the hair and roots remaining after the machine dehairing operation as well asA removal of various glandular secretions and other undesirable matter from the skin portions'of the carcasses. More particularly the invention relates to that type of dipping apparatus which is adapted for disposition in an interruption or cut-out in an overhead rail for use with'g'ambrel-supporting trolleys in conveying the carcasses from the dehairing machine to either a polishing machine or the carcass-cutting and inspection line, land operates during use or operation thereof to take the trolley-supported carcasses from the preceding section of the rail,l

that is, the section between it and the dehairing machine or the usual gambrel-applying table at the discharge end of the dehairing machine and then, after dipping of the carcasses into-the tank for coating purposes, to transfer or place the dipped carcasses on the section of the rail leading from it to the polishing machine or Cutting and inspection line.

One object of theinvention is to provide an apparatus of this type which effectively and emciently fulfills its intended purpose and is adaptu ed primarily for use in carrying out the carcasstreating method or process which forms the subject matter of United States Letters Patent No. 2,106,299, granted November 23, 1937, to Frederick M. Tobin. Y

Another object of. the invention is to provide a dipping apparatus of the type underconsideration which is of unitary design and comprises a frame over the tank of molten resinous material and in addition a frame-supported motordriven endless conveyor which is in the form of a pair of laterally spaced chains and hookequipped cross-shafts between the chains and embodies a substantially horizontal reach between and slightly above the preceding and following sections of the overhead rail,I a downwardly Aextending reach for lowering the carcasses from the preceding rail section into the tank, and an upwardly extending reach between the lower end of the downwardly extending reach a dipping apparatus of the last mentioned character in which the hooks which are associated with the cross-shafts of the endless conveyor are so controlled that` during travel past the discharge end of the so-c'alled preceding rail secgagement with the trolley frames so that the trolleys together `with their gambrel-supported coated ordipped'hog carcasses are freel for travel on the following rail section to the point where the resinous coatings are stripped from the carcasses.

A further object of the invention is to provide A a carcass-dipping apparatus of the type and character under consideration which includes power-driven mechanism for controlling the hog carcasses on the preceding section of the rail so that they are fed to the discharge end of the latter inproperly timed or coordinated relation with movement of the hook-equipped Across-shaft of the conveyor past such end of the preceding rail section, and also includes -means for automatically turning the hogIcarcasses into a position whereinthev backs thereof face the downwardly extending reach'of the conveyor as soon as they are delivered to' the discharge. `end of the preceding railsection.

f trollingthe carcasses `so that the backs' thereof and the opposite end of the horizontal reach for elevating the dipped or coated carcasses from the tank and delivering them to the following rail section.

AAnother object of the invention is to provide are `more particularly defined by claims at the.

face forwards, that is, in thedirection of the discharge end oft-he apparatus during downward movement into the molten resinous materiall in the 'subjacent' tank.

Other objects of theinvention and the various advantages' and characteristics of the kpresent hog carcass-dipping apparatus will be apparent from-a consideration of the following detailed' description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and conclusion hereof.

-In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a dipping apparatus embodying the invention, illustrating the type and arrangement of the mechanism for driving the endless conveyor;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the receiving end of the apparatus, that is, the end which is disposed adjacent to the discharge end of the preceding section of the overhead rail and includes the downwardly'extening conveyor reach for lowering the carcasses into the tank;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus, showing in detail the manner in which the endless conveyor serves to convey the carcasses from the discharge end of the preceding rail section downwards through the tank for coating purposes and then upwards to the receiving end of the following section of the overhead rail;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the receiving end of the conveyor, illustrating the manner in which the hooks which are associated with and carried by the cross-shafts on the endless conveyor are controlled so that during travel past the discharge end of the preceding rail section they are brought into hooked relation with the frames of the trolleys;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the discharge end of the conveyor, showing in detail the manner in which the hooks are controlled so that after the dipping operation and travel to the end of the upwardly extending reach of the conveyor they operate first to deposit the trolleys on the receiving end of the following section of the overhead rail and then are automatically swung out of engagement with the trolley frames so that the trolleys together with the coated hog carcasses are free for travel on the following rail section to the point where the coatings are stripped from the carcasses;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional View of the receiving end of the apparatus illustrating in detail the construction and design of the power-driven mechanism for controlling the hog carcasses on the preceding section of the rail so that they are fed to the discharge end of the latter in properly timed or coordinated relation with movement of the hook-equipped cross-shafts of the conveyor past such end of the preceding rail section; Y

Figures 7 and 8 arerespectively fragmentary vertical transverse and horizontal sectional views of the receiving end of the apparatus, eX- hibiting in detail the design and arrangement of the means for automatically turning the hog carcasses into a position wherein the backs thereof face the downwardly extending reach of the conveyor as soon as they are delivered to the discharge end of the preceding rail section;

Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view of the discharge end of the apparatus showing in detail the design of such end and the arrangement and construction of the control means whereby the hooks after deposit of the trolleys on the receiving end of the following section of the overhead rail are swung out of engagement with the trolley frames; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating in detail the structural design of the motor driven endless conveyor.

'Ihe apparatus which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is designed expressly for use in a combined slaughtering and packing house having an overhead rail I I for conveying hog carcasses from a, dehairing machine (not shown) to a polishing machine (also not shown) in front of the usual cutting and inspection line, and serves during operation thereof to dip the carcasses, one at a time, into a tank I2 containing molten resinous material in order to apply substantially complete seal-like coatings which when stripped or peeled from the carcasses remove the hair and roots remaining after the machine dehairing operation and also effect removal of various glandular secretions and other undesirable matter from the skin portions of the carcasses. Principally the apparatus is adapted for use in carrying out the method or process which forms the subject matter of the aforementioned Tobin Patent No. 2,100,299, to which reference may be had for a more complete or detailed disclosure. The overhead rail II is adapted to support the hog carcasses in a depending inverted position by way of trolleys I3. It has a cut-out or interruption therein for the dipping apparatus, as shown in Figure 3, and comprises a preceding rail section I4 and a following rail section I5. The rail section I4 leads from the aforementioned dehairing machine for the hog carcasses or the usual gambrel-applying table at the discharge end of the dehairing machine to the receiving end of the apparatus and has a downwardly inclined discharge end whereby the trolley-supported carcasses tend to gravitate toward the receiving end of the apparatus. The extremity of the discharge end of the rail section I4 embodies a depression I6 in the top face thereof for receiving the trolleys and holding them in place until they and the hog carcasses which are suspended therefrom are picked up by the apparatus, as hereinafter described. The so-called following rail section I5 leads from the discharge end of the apparatus to the aforementioned polishing machine or cutting and inspection line and has a downwardly inclined receiving end whereby the trolleys I3, when deposited thereon, are caused in response to the action of gravity to move forwardly along the rail section I5. The trolleys I3 have annular grooves in the peripheries thereof for receiving the upper faces or margins of the sections of th overhead rail and through the medium of frames I`I support gambrels I8 in a dependent position. The frames II are vertically elongated and have inverted U-shaped upper ends which overlie the trolleys and are connected thereto by way of pins I9. The lower ends of the trolley frames are adapted to underlie the rail sections, as shown in the drawings, and are connected to the central portions of the gambrels I8 by eye-bolts 20 and brackets 2|. The gambrels I8 `are adapted to be applied to the hocks of the hog carcass after the latter have been subjected to the action of the dehairing machine and extend substantially horizontally when supported or suspended from the overhead rail II by the trolleys I3. The brackets 2I are applied to the central portions of the gambrels and the eye bolts 20 are swivelly connected to the lower ends of the trolley frames in order that the carcasses are normally free to turn.

After application of the gambrels to the hocks of the carcasses the trolleys I3 are placed on the precedingrail 'section' I4.V Thereafter the carcasses while in a dependent .position are moved along such rail section to the receiving end of the dipping apparatus. From the f discharge end of the rail section I4 the carcasses, as hereinafter described,` are picked up'and then after being dipped in the material in the tank I2 are elevated and then transferred to the receiving end of the following rail section I5. The tank is disposed, as shown in Figure 3, beneath the interruption or cut-out'in the overhead rail II and is suitably mounted in the floor of the room in which the dipping operation is carried out. It is elongated in the direction of the rail and is adapted to be heated byway of steam coils (not shown) in order to maintain the resinous material therein at the desired temperature.

The dipping apparatus is disposed directly above the tank I2 and comprises as the main or essential parts thereof an elongated frame'22, an endless conveyor 23, and mechanism 24 fo driving the conveyor. f

Ihe frame 22 is interposed between the dis charge end of the preceding rail section I4 and the receiving end ofA the following rail section I5 and embodies a pair of sides 25 and a top 26. The sides of the frame are disposed in laterally spaced relation and extend upwards from the sides of the tank I2. They serve as a supporting medium for the top 26 of the frame and consist of front uprights 21, intermediate uprights 28, and rear uprights 29 are in the form of channel beams and serve to support the front end of the top 26 of the frame. The rear uprights are also in the form of channel beams and, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, support the rear end of the top. The intermediate uprights are spaced equidistantly between the front and rear uprights and underlie and support the central portion of the top 26. Said top consists of a pair of parallel laterally spaced horizontally extending upper longitudinal beams 30, a pair of parallel laterally spaced horizontally extending lower longitudinal beams 3l, a longitudinal series of crossbeams 32 between the upper beams 30 and a pair of cross beams 33 and 34 between the lower Ibeams 3|. The upper beams 3|] are of channel design and are secured to the extreme upper ends of the uprights conof the preceding rail section I4 and their rear 1 ends overhang the receiving end of the following section I5. The crossbeams 32 are suitably secured to the upper beams 39 and serve to hold the latter in laterally spaced and rigid relation. The front ends of the upper beams 30 are addi.- tionally cross-connected by angle iron bars 3,5 and these, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, carry depending hangers 36 for the discharge end of the preceding rail section I4. A hanger 31 serves to support the receiving end ofthe following rail section I5 and this hanger is suspended from the crossbeam 32 whichis located between the rear extremities or ends ofthe beams 30. The lower beams 3I are disposed beneath and parallel to the upper beams 30. They are substantially horizontally aligned with the rail sections I4 and I5 and are suitably connected to the upper ends of the uprights 21,4 28 and 29. The crossbeam 33 extends between and is secured to the upper ends of `the front uprights 21 `of the The front uprights the front'ends of the lower beams 3 I It underlies the discharge end of the preceding rail section I4 and is severed or cut awayat the central portion thereof in order to permit the trolley frames I1 to pass across it during movement of their respective trolleys into contact with the depression I6. The inner or severed ends of the two sections of the crossbeam 33 are supported by Way of diagonal angle bar braces 38 and carry in an upstanding position a pair of laterally spaced guides 39 and 40. The latter serve to guide the trolleys I3 onto the depression I6 and prevent them during-movement toward the extremity of the discharge end of the lpreceding rail section I4 from assuming an angular position with respect to said rail section. The guide 49 embodies at the rear end theerof a pivoted brake plate 4I. This plate is adapted to engage the trolley frames as the trolleys move into contact with the depression I6 and by way of friction prevents the trolleys from rolling over the extremity of the discharge end of said rail section I4. A spring 42 on a stem 43 serves to urge the brake plate 4I into frictional engagement with the trolley frames. This spring is of the compression variety and abuts against a block 44 (see Figure 8) cn the crossbeam 33. The stem 43 is pivotally connected at one end thereof to the distal end of the brake-plate 4I l and the other end of the stem extends through the block 44 and embodies a pair of nuts 45 whereby inward swinging of the brake-plate is limited. The crossbeam 34, like the crossbeam 33 is formed of channel iron. It extends between and is connected to the upper ends of the rear uprights 29 of the frame sides 25 and is disposed adjacent to the rear ends of the lower beams 3l. The central portion of the crossbeam 34 is cut away or severed so as to accommodate the receiving end of the rail section I5 and also permit the trolley frames I1 to pass thereacross. The inner or severed ends of the two sections of the crossbeams are supported by diagonal angle bar braces 46 and carry a pair of laterally spaced channel type guide members 41 which project toward the front or receiving end of the frame 22 and serve to guide and hold against lateral displacement the trolleys I3 after elevation thereof into an overlying position with respect to the receiving end of the following rail section I5 at the conclusion of the dipping operation. v

The endless conveyor 23 is disposed between the sides 25 4of the frame 22 and consists of a pair of laterally spaced chains 48 and a series of cross-shafts 49 between the chains. The chains, as shown in Figure 10, comprise serially arranged pairs of links 5G vwhich are pivotally connected together by pivot pins 5I. The cross-shafts 49 extend between the two chains 48 and serve to cross-connect them for conjoint drive. They are in the form of pipes and have end caps 52 and in addition, rods 53 extending longitudinally therethrough. The ends of the rods 53 are pivotally connected to certain of the pairs of links and serve as the medium of attachment between the cross-shafts and the chains. The cross-shafts 49 have associated therewith hooks 54 for engagement with the upper ends of the trolley frames and these hooks are mounted on crossrods 55 which are spaced a slight distance from and extend vparallel to the shafts 49 and are connected to the latter by way of pairs of arms 56. As shown in the drawings, the hooks 54 are fixframe sides '25 and is. disposed directly beneath edly mounted on the central portions of the cross-rods 55 and face in the direction of the discharge end of the apparatus. The arms 56 are iixedly secured by pins 5'I to the ends of the cross-rods 55 and have ring shaped members 58 which extend loosely around the outer ends of the cross-shaft 49 and are held against inward longitudinal displacement by way of collars 58 on said cross-shafts. By reason of the pivotal connections between the ends of the cross-shafts and the chains and because the members 58 t loosely around the ends of said cross-shafts, the hooks 54 tend normally in response to the action of gravity to maintain a depending attitude with respect to the cross-shafts. The chain and crossshaft formed conveyor 23 is arranged or designed so that it embodies a substantially horizontal reach 60, a downwardly extending reach 6I and an upwardly extending reach 62, and is adapted to be driven by the mechanism 24 so that the chains and cross-shafts thereofI move in the direction of the preceding rail section I5, that is, towards the receiving end of the frame during travel in the upper reach, then downwards towards the tank I2 in connection with travel in i the downwardly extending reach 6I, and finally upwards away from the tank and in the direction of the receiving end of the following rail in connection with travel in the upwardly extending reach 62. As hereinafter described, the hooks 54 on the central portions of the crossshaft supported cross-rods 55 are adapted during travel of the cross-shafts in the reach 6I, rst, to engage the trolley frames II at the discharge end of the rail section I4 and lift the trolleys and the carcasses associated therewith from said end of the section I4 and then to lower the carcasses into the molten resinous material in the tank I2, as shown in Figure 3. During travel of the crossshafts in the reach 62 of the conveyor, the hooks through the medium of the trolley frames and gambrels elevate the dipped carcasses to a point directly in front of the receiving end of the following rail section I5. At such point the hooks are adapted to place the trolleys on the rail section I5 and then are automatically controlled so that they are swung out of engagement with the trolley frames and the trolleys are thus free to travel on the rail section I5. The horizontal reach 60 of the conveyor is disposed in a slightly elevated position with respect to the upper longitudinal beams of the top 26 of the frame and is supported at its front end by a pair of sprockets 63 and at its rear end by a pair of sprockets 64. The sprockets 63 are disposed directly above the discharge end of the preceding rail section I4 and have the contiguous portions of the conveyor chains 48 wrapped therearound, They are aligned with the sprockets 64 and are xedly secured to a shaft 65 which is journaled in bearings 66 on the front ends of the upper longitudinal beams 38. The sprockets 64 are located above the receiving end of the following rail section I5, as shown in Figures 3 and 5. They have the contiguous portions of the conveyor chains wrapped therearound and are xedly secured to a horizontally extending shaft 61 which is journaled in bearings 68 on the rear ends of the beams 30. The front parts of the portions of the chains 48 in the upper reach of the conveyor are slidably mounted on and supported by a pair of angle bar type tracks 69. These tracks are arranged in laterally spaced relation and are supported from the upper longitudinal beams 30 of the frame top 26 by Way of standards 10. The

rear parts of the portions of the chains in the upper reach of the conveyor are supported by way of a pair of idler sprockets 1I. The latter are disposed slightly forwards of, and in substantial alignment with, the sprockets 64 and are mountedon a shaft 'I2 which extends transversely across thev two beams 30 and is journaled in a pair of bearings 'I3 on said beams. A belt tightener I4 is applied to the chains 48 at a point between the pair of sprockets 64 and the pair of sprockets 1I. This tightener comprises a pair of sprocket wheels 15 which rest upon the aforementioned portions of the chains and are mounted on the distal ends of a pair of pivot arms 16. The latter are connected to pivot studs 'I'I on brackets at the rear ends of the beams 30 and have compression springs 'I8 applied thereto so that they are urged downwards and cause the wheels I5 to take up any slack in the two chains. The downwardly extending reach 6I of the conveyor extends in diagonal manner between a pair of chain-engaging idler sprockets 'I9 and a pair of laterally spaced idler sprockets 80. The sprockets 79 are located slightly rearwards of, and beneath, the sprockets 63 and are mounted on a pair of stub shafts 8I in bearings 82 on the front ends of the lower longitudinal beams 3l of the frame top 26. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the conveyor chains 48 extend over the top portions of the idler sprockets 'I9 and then pass downwardly to the sprockets 80. The sprockets '18, as the result of their location or position with respect to the sprockets 63, cause the chains after passing around said sprockets 63 to travel upwards and rearwards for a slight distance in substantially parallel relation with the extremity of the discharge end of the preceding rail section I4. Because of this and due to the spacing and size of the sprockets 63, the hooks 54 after passing around the shaft of the sprockets 63, move across the depression I6 in said discharge end of the rail section I4 and engage the trolley frames over such depression and then pass or move upwards and effect raising of the trolleys. After passing the sprockets '18, the hooks with the engaged trolley frames and their attendant gambrel-supported carcasses, move forwardly and downwardly toward the tank I2. The idler sprockets 80 have the conveyor chains wrapped around the bottom portions thereof and are mounted on a cross shaft 83 between the lower ends of the intermediate uprights 28 of the frame sides 25. They are aligned with or spaced correspondingly to the sprockets I9 and are so positioned above the tank that when the hooks 54 pass therearound the carcasses depending from the hooks become immersed in the molten resinous material. Bearings 84 on the uprights 28 serve to support the cross-shaft 83 and the sprockets 80. The portions of the conveyor chains in the reach 6I are guided or held against sagging movement by way of diagonally extending angle iron tracks 85. These tracks, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, are carried by horizontally extending beams 86 on the central portions of the intermediate uprights 28. The upwardly extending reach 62 of the conveyor extends between the idler sprockets 80 and a pair of chain engaging idler sprockets 81 between and slightly beneath the sprockets 64y and 1I. Said idler sprockets 8l are arranged so that the chains pass thereover and are mounted on a pair of laterally spaced stub shafts 88 which are journaled in bearings 89 on the rear ends of the lower longitudinal beams 3| of the frame top 26. They are aligned with and spaced correspondingly to the idler sprockets 80 and are so arranged with respect to the sprockets 64 that the hooks 54 during travel past them pass with their respective trolleys between the pair of guides 41 and then slightly downwards so as to deposit said trolleys on the receiving end of the following rail section I5. In order to disengage the hooks 54 from the trolley frames after deposit of the trolleys on such end of the rail section I5, two laterally spaced cam elements 90 are provided. These elements are suitably carried or fixedly supported between the rear ends of the upper longitudinal beams 30 and are adapted after deposit of the trolleys by the hooks on the rail section I to engage the ends of the cross-rods 55 and to swing such rods rearwards with respect to their respective cross-shafts and cause the hooks to swing rearwards out of engagement with the trolley frames I1 (see Figure 9). After travel their normal position wherein they extend in a dependent manner from the cross-shafts 49. The

elements 90 constitute simple means for disengaging the hooks 54 from the trolley frames |1 after deposit of the trolleys on the receiving end y,zo past the receiving end of the following section of of the rail section I5. 'I'he portions of the con- ,3

veyor chains 48 in the upwardly extending reachv 62 of the conveyor,v that is, between the idler sprockets 80 and 81, are guided and held against sagging by way of diagonal angle bar tracks 9|.

These tracks extend upwardly and rearwardly. and are fixedly secured to and carried by the horizontally extending beams 8B. When driven by the mechanism 24 the conveyor 23 operates through the medium of the hooks 54 rst to remove the hog carcasses from the discharge end of the rail section I4, then to lower the carcasses into the tank I2 so that they become immersed in, and are coated by, the molten resinous material, and finally to elevate the carcasses from the tank and cause them to be suspended on the receiving end of the following rail section I5.

The conveyor driving mechanism 24 is mounted on the top 26 of the frame of the apparatus and comprises an electric motor 92, -a belt type variable speed reducing unit 93, and a worm gear type speed reducing unit 94. The motor 92 is mounted on a platform 95 between the central portions of the lower longitudinal beams 3| of the frame top 26 and operates to drive the drive shaft of the variable speed reducing unit 93 through the medium of a sprocket and chain connection 96. The latter, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a small sprocket on the armature shaft of the electric motor, a large sprocket on the drive shaft of the variable speed reducing unit 93, and a drive chain which extends around and drivably connects the two sprockets. The variable speed reducing unit 93 is suitably mounted between the intermediate or central portions of the beams 3| and its driven shaft is connected by way of a sprocket and chain connection 91` drive of the conveyor. The worm gear type speed `reducing unit 94 is mounted on a platform 98 at one side of the frame 22 of the apparatus and is connected to drive the shaft 61 for the sprockets 64 by way of a sprocket and chain connection 99. The latter, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a sprocket on the driven shaft ofthe unit 94, a sprocket on one end of said shaft 61, and an endless chain between the two sprockets. When it is desired to operate the apparatus it is only necessary to start the electric motor 92. Upon starting of this motor the mechanism 24 is set in motion with the result that the endless conveyor 23 is driven, as hereinbefore described, and the hog carcasses are moved one at a time from the rail section I4 and then, after dipping, are placed on the rail section I5 as hereinbefore described. In the event that it is desired to increase or decrease the speed of operation of the apparatus, that is, the number of hog carcasses dipped per hour the belt Vtype speed reducing unit 93 is adjusted as desired.

In addition to the frame 22, the endless oonveyor 23 and the conveyor driving mechanism 24, the apparatus comprises mechanism |00 for controlling the hog carcasses on the rail section I4 so that they are fed or delivered to the discharge end o-f said section I4 in properly timed or coordinated relation with lthe movement of the hooks 54 past the depression I6 in said end of the rail section I4. 'Ihi-s mechanism is driven from the electric motor 92 through the medium of the endless conveyor 23 and hence it o-perates in synchronism with 'the latter. It is essentially automatic in character and comprises a pair of horizontally extending, laterally spaced, plunger type stop rods |0| and |02, a pair of upstanding or substantially vertical levers |03 and I 04 for actuating the rods |0| and |03 respectively, and a cam wheel |05 for swinging the levers, as hereinafter described. The rods |0| and |02 extend at right angles to the discharge end of the rail section I4 and are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the width of the central portion of the trolley frames I1. They are carried for horizontal Isliding movement to and from the rail section I4 by way of depending lugs |06 on a bracket |01 and are aligned respectively with a `pair of holes |08 and |09 in said rail section I4. The bracket |01 is connected to and depends from a vertically extending channel iron beam |0 which fits against and is Isecured to one of the cross-beams 32 Kbetween the upper longitudinal beams 30 of the frame top 26. When the rods are alternately slid inwards, as hereinafter described in response to swinging movement of the levers, the inner ends pass through the aforementioned holes |08 and |09 and project beyond the pre ceding rail section I4 in such manner as to form stops 1 or abutments for the central or intermediate portions of the trolley frames I1. When the rod |02 is in its operative stop-forming position and the rod IOI is in its retracted position the carcass-supporting trolley next in Vline on the rail section I4 is free to roll downwards un-v til the central portion of itsframe I1 strikes against the projecting or stop-forming inner end of the rod |02. When the rod |02 is retracted Ithe rod |0| is adapted to be shifted into its operative or stop forming position and the carthe conveyor. When the rod I| is in its operative position, the discharge end of the rail section I4 is blocked against passage of the next following carcass-supporting trolley. Upon retraction of the rod IOI the rod |02 is adapted to be shifted into its operative or stop-forming position. During such operation of the two rods the said next following carcass-supporting trolley passes the rod |0I and is arrested by the central portion of its frame-engaging the projecting or inner end of the rod |02. As the result of alternate reciprocation or sliding movement of the two rods the carcass-supporting trolleys are controlled so that they pass, one at a time, to the extremity of the discharge end of the section I4. The levers for actuating the rods are centrally fulcrumed or pivoted by way of a pin III on a lug I2 which is formed integrally with and projects outwardly from the bracket |01. The lower ends of the two levers have forks which, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, straddle the outer ends of the plunger type rods and t between nuts or shoulders on such ends of the rods. The upper ends of the levers have rollers which bear against diametrically opposite portions of the cam face of the wheel |05. Said wheel is fixed to a horizontal shaft ||3 on the bracket |01 and is so shaped as far as the cam face thereof is concerned that during rotation it operates alternately to swing outwards the upper ends of the levers |03 and |04. When the upper end of the lever |04 is swung outwards by the cam wheel the rod |03 due to inward swing of the lower end of said lever |04 slides inwards into its operative position. During outward swing of the upper end of the lever |03 the rod I0| is shifted inwards as the result of inward swing of the lower lever |03. Compression springs I|4 are mounted on the outer ends of the rods |0I and |02 between the forks at the lower ends of the levers and one of the lugs |06 of the bracket |01 and operate to urge the lower ends of the lever outwards and thus hold the rollers in engagement with the cam wheel and also retract the rods. The shaft ||3 is journaled in a suitable bearing on the bracket |01 and is driven for cam wheel rotating purposes from the conveyor 23 by way of a sprocket and chain connection and a sprocket and chain connection IIB. The connection ||5 comprises a sprocket |I1 on one end of the shaft 65, a sprocket II8 on one end of a horizontally extending shaft IIS, and an endless chain extending around the two sprockets. The shaft IIS is journaled in suitable bearings and overlles the front ends of the upper longitudinal beams of the top of the frame. The connection IIS comprises a sprocket |2| on the other end of the shaft II9, a sprocket |22 on the shaft I|3, and an endless chain |23 extending around the two last mentioned sprockets. The sprocket and chain connections ||5 and IIB are adapted or designed so to drive the cam wheel |05 that the mechanism |00 operates in a synchronous manner as far as the conveyor 23 is concerned and so controls the carcass supporting trolleys on the preceding rail section I4 that there is one trolley on the depression I6 at the extremity of the discharge end of said rail section I4 every time one of the hooks 54 traverses or passes such extremity. Due to the fact that the mechanism |00 is driven from the conveyor it always operates to effect the proper delivery of the carcass speed at which the conveyor is driven.

As additional parts or elements the dipping apparatus comprises means for automatically turning the carcasses into a position wherein the backs .thereof face the downwardly extending reach 6I of the conveyor as soon as they are delivered to the discharge end of the preceding rail section I4 and means for holding or controlling the carcasses so that the backs thereof face forwards during downward and forward movement with respect to the molten resinous material in the tank I2. The rst mentioned means consists of a deflector type rod |24, and ithe second mentioned means comprises a pair of laterally spaced bars |25. The rod |24 is located directly beneath and :to one side of the extremity of the discharge end of the preceding rail section I4` It is supported by way of hangers |26 from one of the sections of the centrally severed crossbeam 33 of the frame and is bent or shaped so that it embodies a curved end |21 and a semicircular end |28 with a sharp semicircular reverse bend |29 therebetween. The bend |29 is located directly beneath the depression I5 in the discharge end of the rail section I4 and the curved end |21 projects forwardly therefrom and to one side of rthe rail section I4, -as shown in Figure 8. The semicircular end |28 faces -or opens in the direction of the reach 6I of the conveyor and is disposed behind the curved end |21. The carcasses in passing from the mechanism |00 to the extremity of the discharge end of the .preceding rail section I4, travel, as a general rule, with one hock leading and the other hock trailing, as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8. The curved end |21 of the Irod |24 is so arranged and designed that as a carcass passes by it the leading hock strikes against it and is urged to one side until it passes the bend |29. On passage of the leading hock past the bend |29 the end |21 is adapted to be engaged by the trailing hock of the carcass and as the result of its curvature swings the latter outwards and causes the leading hock to enter the semicircular end |28, as shown in Figure 8. The bars |25 are disposed in front of, and extend parallel to, .the reach 6I' of -the conveyor and are suitably secured in place by brackets on the front ends of the beams 86. They are spaced apart a distance less than the length of the gambrels I8 and are adapted to have the latter pass downwardly thereagainst during downward travel in lthe direction of the -tank I2. As the result of the arrangement and spacing of 4the bars |25 the gambrels are so controlled that they are maintainedinatransversepositionwith respectto the frame of the apparatus and hence the hogs depending therefrom cannot turn sidewise and Imove 4forwardly and downwards into the material in the tank I2 with their Vbacks facing forwards, that is,l towards the discharge end of the apparatus. `By preventing the hogs from turning during lowering thereof into the resinous material in the tank and by controlling the carcasses so that the backs face towards the discharge end of the apparatus efficient coating of the carcasses is obtained.

Assuming that the motor 92 is in operation and that the machine-dehaired carcasses are being fed along the preceding section I4 of the overhead rail I I to the downwardly inclined discharge end ofthe depression |6`fthe operation of the apparatusis as follows: As the carcasses approach said discharge end ofthe rail section I4 they are subjected to the action 'of rthe mechanism |00 whichso 'controlsthem that they are delivered "oneat a'tir'ne Ito the extremity 'of said discharge -have frame equipped trolleys with animal carend of the section I4 in ltimed relation with 'passage of the hooks 54 thereby. As each carcass is released by the mechanism it travels toward the depression I6 until it is arrested by the ftrolley therefor rolling into said depression and being subjected to t-he action of the brake plate 4|. During the aforesaid travel each carcass is turned by the bar |24 so that the back thereof faces the downwardly extending reach 6l of the conveyor. Upon arrival of each carcass beneaththe depression I6 it is picked up by one of the hooks 54 and then moved downwards and forwardly into the tank l2 where it receives a coatingof the molten resinous material. After -coating each carcass is elevated by the conveyor and then, as hereinbefore described, deposited' upon the receiving end of the following rail section I5. After deposit on the rail section I the carcasses are moved forwards to a point where the resinous coatings are stripped therefrom whilein a plastic state in order to elect removal of the hair and roots remaining after the machine-dehairing operation as well as glandular and other undesirable matter from the skin portions of the carcasses.

The herein described apparatus is essentially automatic in that it operates without human participation or agency to remove the carcasses on-e at a time from the 'discharge end of .the

`preceding rail section I4 and Ithen after dipping' them in the tank I2 for coating purposes to place themy upon the receiving end of the rail section l5 for travel past the coating removing point, and then to the polisher and cutting and inspection lin-e. ment of the parts the apparatus as a whole is durable and well suited for its intended purpose.

The invention is not to -be understood as restri-cted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claimv as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a tank containing coating material and an overhead rail adaptedto have frame equipped trolleys with animal carcasses suspended from the frames travel one at a time along it and provided with a cut-out over the tank dividing it into a preceding and afolllowing rail section, an apparatus adapted to dip the carcasses into the tank for coating purposes and comprising a frame disposed over the tank and in said cut-out, a power driven endless conveyor supported by the apparatus frame and embodying a series of hooks shaped to engage the trolley frames and adapted during drive of the conveyor to be brought successively intohooked relation with the frames of the trolleys on the adjacent end of the preceding rail section, then to remove said trolleys with their respective carcasses from said adjacent end of the preceding rail section, then to lower said trolleys towards the tank in order to effect dipping of the carcasses in the material, then .to elevate the trolleys and coated carcasses from the tank, and nally to deposit the trolleys on the adjacent end of the `following rail sectionfor travel of said coated carcasses along the latter rail section, and means for disengaging the hooks from the trol- Due to the construction and arnangeley frames after deposit of the trolley on said adcasses suspended from the frames travel one at a time along it and provided with a cut-out over the tank dividing it into a preceding and a following rail section, an apparatus adapted to dip thecarcasses into the tank for coating purposes 'and comprisinga frame disposed over the tank and in said cut-out, a power driven endless conveyor supported by the apparatus frame and embodying a series of pivotally suspended hooks shaped Vto engage the trolley frames and adapted during drive of the conveyor to be brought successively into hooked relation with the frames of the trolleys -on the adjacent end of the preceding rail section, then to remove said trolleys with their respective carcasses from said adjacent end of the preceding rail section, then to lower said trolleys towards the tank in order to effect dipping of the carcasses in the material, then to elevate the trolleys and coated carcasses from the tank, and finally to deposit the trolleys on the adjacent end of the following rail section for travel of said coated carcasses along the latter rail section, and means for swinging the hooks out of engagement with the trolley frames after deposit of the trolleys on said adjacent end of the following rail section.

3..In combination with a tank containing coating material and an overhead rail adapted to have frame equipped trolleys with animal carcasses suspended from the frames travel one at a time along it and provided with a cut-out Iover the tank dividing it into a preceding and a following rail section, an apparatus adapted to dip the carcasses into the tank for coating purposes and comprising a frame disposed over the tank and in said cut-out, and a power driven endless conveyor supported on the frame so that it embodies a substantially horizontal reach extending between and Islightly above the opposed ends of the two rail sections, a downwardly extending reach leading tow-ard the tank and an upwardly extending return reach leading to the adjacent end Vof the following rail section, and including a seriesV of ho-oks adapted in connection with drive of the conveyor to be brought successively into hooked relation with the frames of the trolleys on the adjacent end of the preceding rail section directly after travel in the horizontal reach and thenimrnediately thereafter to rem-ove .said trolleys with their respective carcasses from said adjacent end of the preceding rail section, then during travel in said downwardly extending reach to lower said trolleys towards the tank in order to effect dipping of the carcasses in the InateriaL and then during travel in the upper reach of the conveyor to elevate the trolleys and coated carcasses from the tank and to deposit the trolleys on the adjacent end of the following rail section for travel of said coated carcasses along said latter rail section.

4'. In combination with a tank containing coating material and an overhead rail adapted to -have frame equipped trolleys with animal carcasses suspended from the frames travel one at a time alongit and provided with a cut-out over the tank dividing it into a preceding and a Afollowing rail section, an apparatus adapted to dip the carcasses into the tank for coating purposes and. comprising a frame disposed over the tank bodies a substantially horizontal reach extending between and slightly above the opposed ends of the two rail sections, a downwardly extending reach leading toward the tank and an upwardly extending return reach leading to the adjacent end of the following rail section, and consisting of a pair of laterally spaced chains and cross rods extending between the chains and having hooks thereon adapted in connection with drive of the conveyor to be brought successively into hooked relation with the frames of the trolleys on the adjacent end of the preceding rail section directly after travel in the horizontal reach and then immediately thereafter to remove said trolleys with their respective carcasses from said adjacent end of the preceding rail section, then during travel in said downwardly extending reach to lower said trolleys towards the tank in order to eifect dipping of the carcasses in the material, and then during travel in the upper reach of the conveyor to elevate the trolleys and coated carcasses from the tank and to deposit the trolleys on the adjacent end of the following rail section for travel of said coated carcasses along said latter rail section.

5. In combination with a tank containing coating material and an overhead rail adapted to have frame equipped trolleys with animal carcasses suspended from the frames travel one at a time along it and provided with a cut-out over the tank dividing it into a preceding and a following rail section, an apparatus adapted to dip the carcasses into the tank for coating purposes and comprising a frame disposed over the tank and in said cut-out, a power driven endless conveyor supported on the frame so that it embodies a substantially horizontal reach extending between and slightly above the opposed ends of the two rail sections, a downwardly extending reach leading toward the tank and an upwardly extending return reach leading to the adjacent end of the following rail section, and consisting of a pair of laterally spaced chains and a series of cross-shafts extending between the chains and having hooks pivotally suspended therefrom and adapted in connection with drive of the conveyor to be brought successively into hooked. relation with the frames of the trolleys on the adjacent end of the preceding rail section directly after travel in the horizontal reach and then immedi-ately thereafter to remove said trolleys with their respective carcasses from said adjacent end of the preceding rail section, then during travel f in .said downwardly extending reach to lower said trolleys towards the tank in order to effect dipping of the carcasses in the material, and then during travel in the upper reach of the conveyor to elevate the trolleys and coated carcasses from the tank and to deposit the trolleys on the adjacent end of the following rail section for travel of said coated carcasses along said latter rail section, and means carried by the apparatus frame and arranged to swing the hooks out of engagement with the trolley frames after deposit of the trolleys on said adjacent end of the following rail section.

6. In combination with a tank containing coating material and an overhead rail adapted to have frame equipped trolleys with animal carcasses suspended from the frames travel one at a time along it and provided with a cut-out over the tank dividing it into a preceding and a following rail section, an apparatus adapted to dip the carcasses into the tank for coating purposes and comprising a frame disposed over the tank and in said cut-out, a power driven endless conveyor supported on the frame so that it embodies a substantially horizontal reach extending between and slightlyv above the opposed ends of the two rail sections, a downwardly extending reach leading toward the tank and an upwardly extending return reach leading tothe adjacent end of the following rail section, and consisting of a pair of laterally spaced endless chains and a series of cross-shafts extending ybetween and connected to the chains and having parallel rods pivotally suspended therefrom with hooks on the rods adapted in connection with drive of the conveyor to be brought successively into hooked relation with the frames of the trolleys on the adjacent end of the preceding rail section directly after travel in the horizontal reach and then immediately thereafter to remove said trolleys with their respective carcasses from said adjacent end of the preceding rail section, then during travel in said downwardly extending reach to lower said trolleys towards the tank in order to effect dipping of the carcasses in the material, and then during travel in the upper reach of the conveyor to elevate the trolleys and coated carcasses from the tank and to deposit the trolleys on the adjacent end of the following rail section for travel of said coated carcasses along said latter rail section, and means carried by the apparatus frame and arranged to engage the rods and swing them relatively to the cross shafts in order to eifect disengagement of the hooks from the trolley frames after deposit of said trolleys on the adjacent ends of the following rail section.

'7. In combination with a tank containing coating material and an overhead rail adapted to have trolleys with animal carcasses swivelly suspended therefrom travel along it and embodying a cut-out over the tank dividing it into sections, an apparatus for dipping the carcasses into the tank for coating purposes, comprising a frame in said cut-out, a power driven conveyor operative in response to drive thereof to remove the carcasses from the adjacent end of one of the sections and to dip them into the material in the tank and nally deliver them onto the adjacent end of the other section, and means adjacent to said adjacent end of said one section for turning the carcasses so that the backs thereof face in a predetermined position immediately prior to removal of the carcasses by the conveyor.

8. In combination with a tank containing coating material and an overhead rail adapted to have trolleys with animal carcasses swivelly suspended therefrom travel along it and embodying a cut-out over the tank dividing it into sections, an apparatus for dipping the carcasses into the tank for coating purposes, comprising a frame in said cut-out, a power driven conveyor operative in response to drive thereof to remove the carcasses from the adjacent end of one of the sections and to dip them into the material in the tank and finally deliver them onto the adjacent end of the other section, and means carried by the frame adjacent said adjacent end of said one section for turning the carcasses so that the backs thereof face in the direction of said other section immediately prior to removal of the carcasses by the conveyor.

9. In combination with a tank containing coating material and an overhead rail adapted to support for travel therealong trolleys with animal carcasses swivelly suspended therefrom by gambrels and embodying a cut-out over the tank for dividing it into sections, an apparatus adapted to dip the carcasses into the tank for coating purposes and `comprising a frame disposed in said 'cut-out, a power driven endless conveyor supported by the frame and operative during drive thereof successively to remove the carcasses from one of the rail sections, then lower them' into the material in the tank, and finally elevate them and deliver them to the other section, and' means adapted to engage the gambrels during lowering of the carcasses into the material by the conveyor and to coact with said gambrels to prevent turning of the carcasses.

10. In combination with a tank containing coating material and an overhead rail adapted to have trolleys with animal carcasses swivelly suspended therefrom travel along it and embodying a cut-out over the tank dividing it into sections, an apparatus adapted to dip the care casses into the tank for coating purposes and comprising a frame disposed in said cut-out, a' power driven endless conveyor supported by the frame and operative during drive thereof suc-- cessively to remove the carcasses from one of the rail sections, then lower them into the mate rial in the tank, and finally elevate them and deliver them to the other section, and means carried by the frame for holding the carcasses against turning and with their backs facing towards said other section during lowering of the carcasses into the material by the conveyor.

11. In combination with a tank containing coating material and an overhead rail adapted to support for travel therealong trolleys with animal carcasses swivelly suspended therefrom by gambrels and embodying a cut-out over the tank dividing it into sections, an apparatus for dipping the carcasses into the tank for coating pur` poses, comprising a frame in said cut-out, a power driven endless conveyor supported by the frame and operative during drive thereof successively to remove the carcasses from one ofthe rail sections, then lower them into the material in the tank, and nally elevate them and deliver them to the other section, and guide rods carried by the frame adapted slidably to engage the gambrels during lowering of the carcassesinto the material by the conveyor and to coact with said gambrels to prevent turning of the carcasses.

l2. In combination with a tank containing coating material and an overhead rail adapted to support for travel therealong trolleys with animal carcasses swivelly suspended therefrom by gambrels and embodying a cut-out over the tank dividing it into sections, an apparatus for dipping the carcasses into the tank for coating purposes, comprising a frame in said cut-out, a power driven endless conveyor supported by the frame and operative during drive thereof successively to remove the carcasses from one of the rail sections and lower them into the material in the tank and finally elevate them and deliver them to the other section, means carried by the frame adjacent said one section for turning the carcasses so that the backs thereof face in the direction of said other section immediately prior to removal of the carcasses by the conveyor, and guide bar means mounted on said frame and adapted slidably to engage the gambrels during lowering of the carcasses into the material and to coact therewith so as to hold the carcasses with their backs facing as aforesaid and at the same time prevent turning of the carcasses.

y .ARTHUR E Oropa 

